S.T.A.L.K.E.R. (series)
| S.T.A.L.K.E.R. | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Genres | First-person shooter, survival horror |
| Developers | GSC Game World |
| Publishers |
GSC World Publishing THQ Deep Silver bitComposer Games |
| Platforms | Microsoft Windows |
| First release |
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl 20 March 2007 |
| Latest release |
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat 2 October 2009 |
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. is a series of first-person shooter survival horror video games developed by Ukrainian video game developer GSC Game World for Microsoft Windows. Based very loosely on the novel Roadside Picnic and the 1979 film adaptation Stalker, the games are set in the area surrounding the Chernobyl accident site, called "The Zone", in an alternative reality where a second explosion occurs at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant some time after the first and causes strange changes in the area around it.
The S.T.A.L.K.E.R. games take place within "The Zone" - which is an alternate history version of the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. According to the games, experimental labs were made in the Exclusion Zone. This allowed scientists the ability to unethically experiment with Psychic capabilities. Their experimentation resulted in a second disaster, causing physical and meteorological phenomena to manifest throughout the "Zone"; in addition, to the mutation of fauna and some humans. As a repercussion to the Scientists' experiments (which had damaged a sort of Psychic Atmosphere), the Zone became semi-conscious. These events are the basis for the alternate history and story the games present.
The Zone is littered with "Anomalies" - hazardous entities which seemingly defy physics, having various effects on any object entering them. For example, the "Vortex" anomaly will pull anything entering its vicinity to its centre, crushing and constricting it, then exploding outwards.
Anomalies often produce items known as "Artifacts", objects with special physical properties such as anti-gravity, or absorbing radiation. As such, they are highly sought after by the research community, corporations and the military due to their potential for advancements in those fields. For this reason, people enter The Zone in hopes of finding such items for personal financial gain. They are known as "Stalkers".
While a great number of Stalkers are considered "Loners", various factions populate The Zone, each with their own philosophies and goals therein. For example, the Duty faction believe that The Zone is the greatest threat to humanity on the planet and are intent on destroying it by any means possible. In contrast, the Freedom faction believe The Zone should be accessible to all. The Armed Forces of Ukraine maintain a cordon around The Zone, attempting to prevent any unauthorised personnel from entering. Additionally, Ukrainian Spetsnaz units conduct special operations within The Zone such as surgical strikes on Stalkers or to secure specific targets.
...
Wikipedia